MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Christmas is a wonderful time of the year in which we remember Christ coming to earth to complete the process of God buying us back into his family. And that is the reason Trans World Radio exists today!
Two close friends and co-workers, Ray and Isac, just returned from a trip to Angola where they met with many listeners. Many people in Africa aren’t able to write letters to TWR, so it is important to make periodic trips to find out if people are really listening. In fact, in Angola a mail system is almost non-existent. They asked how letters get from one place to another and the answer was that they are hand carried from one village to another by a series of travelers going in the direction of the intended village…not by any official postal system. Where postage is used it is very expensive. No wonder few letters are received from our listeners.
Ray often asks listeners how they would feel if the existing programs were discontinued. He was surprised at the answer of one man who stood up and with his finger pointing for emphasis exclaimed, “It would be crime to stop the broadcasts!” He then proceeded to explain how dependent they are on these programs for their spiritual food and how many people are coming to the Lord and lives are being changed. If we are serious about the importance of reaching people for Christ, then to stop the programs would be a crime.
Another man stood up and told how he had one radio which was used every day to listen to the “Thru the Bible” program with at least 75 people listening daily. He pleaded for another radio, because the volume wasn’t loud enough for everyone to hear. Another man stood up and said that he knew the “Thru the Bible” program was a series which lasted for five years. His question was, “What will happen after two years when it comes to the end of the five-year period?” He then pleaded that we please continue the program after that. This man was looking two years down the road, anticipating what might be happening and making his plea now! Another old man stood up and said, “If you stop the programs now, I think I will die!”
One of the first things which must be done when visiting a district in Angola is to report to the authorities, so they know you are in their area. Isac knows this and makes sure it is done properly. When he walked in to see the head man and introduced himself, the man responded by singing, “Trans World Radio – Swaziland!” He recognized Isac’s voice and realized a person from his favorite radio station had come into his office! He then hugged Isac as if he were his closest friend!
I must share with you this one last exciting story! About a month ago, Isac read a letter in our staff meeting from a priest. In the letter, the man was asking penetrating questions about God and the messages he was hearing over the radio. We could tell that he was searching and wanted to know more and had not met Christ personally. Somehow he was told that Isac would be visiting Angola, so he made a great effort to make it to a meeting place where Isac and Ray were spending a day or two in the real African bush. Isac and the local “Thru the Bible” producer spent some more time with him explaining the way of salvation. As a
result, he accepted Christ. What a change came upon his face! It so happened that Isac took a picture of this man just before and then another one the day after he had his heart changed. Can you believe this is the same person? As this man was leaving, he told them that he did not know what would happen to him, as he may be thrown him out of his local assembly. But, he said, it didn’t matter what they did to him, because it would be impossible for them to throw Jesus out of his heart!
My friend, if you are reading this and you really want to give a Christmas present to Africa which will make a real difference, get involved in some way to get the Gospel message out to them. It is the only Christmas present which will make an eternal difference! TWR doesn’t just give this gift at Christmas time, but all year ‘round! It is a privilege and honor for us to be in this work, and many of you continue to make it possible with your prayers and financial giving. Thank you!!!
This Christmas our son, Peter, will be visiting us one last time before he graduates from LeTourneau University in May. We look forward to his visit with great anticipation! He’ll be coming on December 16th and leaving on January 6th.
On April 1st we will be starting a four-month furlough. We look forward to seeing many of you. Please contact us by e-mail if you would like us to stop by for a visit. We are making up our schedule now. We’ll be in need of a small car with good fuel economy to travel many miles. If you know of one we could buy for a good price or borrow, please let us know.
The helmet was the most fun to make. The netting is glued onto the helmet and the bottom zips on to the overalls. Bees don't like dark colors. That's the reason everything is white.
The contraption to catch the bees is made up of a funnel made of wire and netting. The end of the funnel pokes up into the holding area where the bees are trapped.
Here is one of the 10,000 bees coming out of the top of the funnel. Each one had to walk through. It took about 3 hours.
